Otwani fuels Lions win as challengers falter

Jazz Safari National Men's League

Division One

Ceylon Lions 151/10 KICC 113/9

(Ceylon Lions win by 18 runs)

Strikers 200 Challengers 160

(Strikers win by 40 runs)

Division Two

Tornado 249/7 Budo 96

(Tornado win by 153 runs)

Arnold Otwani's grand start at new club Ceylon Lions promises a fair season for the renamed club.

The club Charity picked up a new moniker at the start of the season and perhaps it could as well be an all-round fresh start as they beat KICC by 18 runs Sunday at Kyambogo.

The rather sallying batsman was quite impressive with the ball scoring an unmatched half century of 50 from 53 balls, offering his side a much needed heft on the way to a 151 figure.

When Otwani swapped the yellow (Aziz Damani) for Charity, he had expressed a desire to be the main man, something that could not be achieved at Siva Koti's club. The mighty defending champions have a cast of great players.

In the same way, Simon Ssesazi has continued to play on a consistent- enough basis with a respectable return from the bat, scoring a near half ton of 45 from 66 balls.

A man of the match performance from Davis Karashani who took 5 wickets could not save KICC who have now lost their second game of the season.

Meanwhile, at the Entebbe oval, Strikers won a clash of ‘brothers' by 40 runs against Challengers. Strikers, a junior side of Challengers are playing their debut season in the top flight of the Jazz Safari National Men's League.

Ivan Thawithemwira knocked a half century of 52 from 72 balls to move the board on 200 runs. Derrick Bakunzi's return of 33 off 50 balls was as well important in spite of they were all out courtesy of Asadu Seyiga's 4 wickets claim.

Challenger's opener Hamu Kayondo and Shazad Khamal scored a near half ton of 44 off 66 balls and 44 off 53 balls respectively although Frank Akankwasa's 4 wickets spelled Challengers all out for just 160.

In the second tier, Cosmas Kyewuta's remarkable performance of a half century (56 from 34 balls) and 5 wickets was key in securing Tornado's overwhelming 153 ruins win over Kings College Budo in Jinja.

Tornado are seeking for a renaissance since their relegation to the second Tier in 2016 and for Budo, it was not quite a start to life in division two that they had hoped for.